3 Reasons Why Saying 'No' More Often May Help People Live A Better, Happier Life

While there are those who have no problem declining a request from time to time, there are others who stretch themselves thin just so that they could accommodate other people. If the latter sounds like you, then you absolutely need to learn to say 'no' sometimes.

There is nothing wrong with giving people a helping hand or stepping up when asked to, but it should not be to the detriment of your own sanity and comfort. When you say yes frequently, you are sacrificing your own time and energy for someone else. But you need to remember that you must also say yes to yourself too, which may mean saying no to others.

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1. You can be anything, but you cannot be everything

The simple fact is that we cannot do it all. Every single one of us has limited resources and strength. We can focus our minds on anything we want to do but when every single thing takes our attention, we will end up achieving nothing. We must learn to allocate what we have like time, energy, money, etc so as not to give them all away and feel burned out. Saying "no" will help manage your resources and put them to uses that are beneficial.

2. Saying 'no' inspires respect

Often, we are worried that when we decline a request, people won't like us. We feel that saying 'no' will be interpreted as we not liking the person that asked us, when in fact, the opposite is the case. When we say no, we send a message that we value ourselves and our time. It also shows that we are in control of our lives and our decisions. In addition, we let those around us know that we have boundaries and make choices with integrity. When we do say yes, the person who made the request is assured that we are doing it because we want to and truly care about what they are asking as opposed to just doing it to be liked.

3. You will live a more content life

At first, saying no may make you feel uncomfortable and anxious but the more you continue to use that word, the more comfortable you will get with it. Then, soon enough, you'll realise that your time and effort are going into what you actually care about. And when this happens, you will begin to feel happier and stronger.

Keep in mind that saying 'yes' to everything does not automatically make people like you. In fact, you are more likely to be taken advantage of and that's not love/respect. Saying 'no' on the other hand, gives people no choice but to respect you and your decisions.